Hello, I am thinking about selling my sailboat and getting a smaller boat. I am considering the Laser. Looks like a lot of fun but I am not sure it is the right boat for me. Don't know any Laser sailors to ask so I’m glad I found this forum.
I'm 47 years old and at 235 lbs. admittedly not in top athletic shape. I have been sailing an old 16' Rebel for the last 10 years but the truth is that I only go out a few times a year. The boat is a racing one design intended for a crew of two. I am a recreational sailor who typically sails solo and have never raced it. I was first attracted to the boat because it was small enough to fit in my driveway, could be sailed solo, but had a cockpit big enough to handle myself and my growing family. None of my children got interested in sailing and my wife definitely did not like the whole concept of changing sides each time you change tack. So my boat is actually more boat than I need. It's a fun boat, pretty easy to sail, and fast when there is a crew onboard but it has a fairly large sail and can become overpowered in a good strong wind if you are sailing solo. I am looking for something smaller, and easier to rig and sail.
My biggest concern with my Rebel is that it is not self righting. If it should capsize it will swamp and possibly turn turtle. Sailing solo I have always been concerned that I might not able to get it righted and back under way if I should capsize. Having that nagging doubt always adds a bit of tension and apprehension when I sail which takes away from the enjoyment and leads me to sail conservatively. I saw some picture of some swamped boats at the nationals and it's pretty frightening for the older boats like mine that are not self righting. Swamp doesn't do justice. Submerged is a better word.
My second gripe is that rigging the boat takes a fair amount of time. The process of stepping the 24' mast and rigging out the boat involves a lot of climbing in and out of the boat while it's trailored. Looking for something that gets me out on the water faster and with less effort. I’ve sailed Sunfish and they're fun but I’m looking for something with a little more performance.
From what I’ve read so far the Laser may be a good fit but I’ve got some questions
1. How does the Laser respond in a capsize? How easy is it to capsize and how easy is it to right?
2. I know the Laser is a racing one design built for speed. All pictures I see on the internet show people having a ball and taking the boat to the extreme. How suited is it for recreational sailing? Don't get me wrong I don't want to just lazily drift around, I want a boat that moves and is fun and exciting I just don't plan on pushing it to the max (yet!).
3. How athletic do you need to be to sail it? I'm not adverse to hiking out. I have to when I sail the Rebel but not to the point where my knees are the last thing touching the boat.
4. What weight range was it designed for? Am I to heavy for it? (Be honest I can take it)
5, The reservoir where I sail does not have a beach. The boat will have to be launched from a ramp and either rigged at the end of the ramp or at the adjacent docks. Can the boat be rigged from a dock? It does not look like a boat that you can stand up in so I'm not sure how easy it would be to place the mast.
6. I see that the sail has a sleeve which fits over the mast. Is there a main halyard? How do you dose the sail when you are approaching the dock? Same question applies if you need to rig the boat on a trailer or dolly. Does the boat need to be launched with the sail raised?
Like I said I wish I new a Laser sailor that I could discuss this with. I appreciate any advice you can provide.
Thanks
I'm 47 years old and at 235 lbs. admittedly not in top athletic shape. I have been sailing an old 16' Rebel for the last 10 years but the truth is that I only go out a few times a year. The boat is a racing one design intended for a crew of two. I am a recreational sailor who typically sails solo and have never raced it. I was first attracted to the boat because it was small enough to fit in my driveway, could be sailed solo, but had a cockpit big enough to handle myself and my growing family. None of my children got interested in sailing and my wife definitely did not like the whole concept of changing sides each time you change tack. So my boat is actually more boat than I need. It's a fun boat, pretty easy to sail, and fast when there is a crew onboard but it has a fairly large sail and can become overpowered in a good strong wind if you are sailing solo. I am looking for something smaller, and easier to rig and sail.
My biggest concern with my Rebel is that it is not self righting. If it should capsize it will swamp and possibly turn turtle. Sailing solo I have always been concerned that I might not able to get it righted and back under way if I should capsize. Having that nagging doubt always adds a bit of tension and apprehension when I sail which takes away from the enjoyment and leads me to sail conservatively. I saw some picture of some swamped boats at the nationals and it's pretty frightening for the older boats like mine that are not self righting. Swamp doesn't do justice. Submerged is a better word.
My second gripe is that rigging the boat takes a fair amount of time. The process of stepping the 24' mast and rigging out the boat involves a lot of climbing in and out of the boat while it's trailored. Looking for something that gets me out on the water faster and with less effort. I’ve sailed Sunfish and they're fun but I’m looking for something with a little more performance.
From what I’ve read so far the Laser may be a good fit but I’ve got some questions
1. How does the Laser respond in a capsize? How easy is it to capsize and how easy is it to right?
2. I know the Laser is a racing one design built for speed. All pictures I see on the internet show people having a ball and taking the boat to the extreme. How suited is it for recreational sailing? Don't get me wrong I don't want to just lazily drift around, I want a boat that moves and is fun and exciting I just don't plan on pushing it to the max (yet!).
3. How athletic do you need to be to sail it? I'm not adverse to hiking out. I have to when I sail the Rebel but not to the point where my knees are the last thing touching the boat.
4. What weight range was it designed for? Am I to heavy for it? (Be honest I can take it)
5, The reservoir where I sail does not have a beach. The boat will have to be launched from a ramp and either rigged at the end of the ramp or at the adjacent docks. Can the boat be rigged from a dock? It does not look like a boat that you can stand up in so I'm not sure how easy it would be to place the mast.
6. I see that the sail has a sleeve which fits over the mast. Is there a main halyard? How do you dose the sail when you are approaching the dock? Same question applies if you need to rig the boat on a trailer or dolly. Does the boat need to be launched with the sail raised?
Like I said I wish I new a Laser sailor that I could discuss this with. I appreciate any advice you can provide.
Thanks